When the beluga whale Hvladimir first appeared off the coast of Norway in 2019, it quickly became an internet sensation. He was clearly familiar with people and loved to play with them.
The mystery of its origin was never solved. The most popular theory is that he is an escaped “spy whale” from Russia as he was wearing a harness and camera mount labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg”.
Initially, the big question was how well Hvladimir would do in the wild. Initially he was regularly fed in the harbor of Hammerfest. But soon he started swimming up and down the Norwegian coast.
“Then he can lead a life as natural as possible”
The beluga whale learned how to get food. Apparently he wants to be close to people to have company, but that quickly proved dangerous. He has been injured several times by fishing hooks or boat motors.
But now his fate may change. As The Guardian reports, British property magnate Adam Thorpe was so moved by his story that he is now trying to raise money to create the world’s first open water whale sanctuary in the Norwegian fjords.
Work on the 500-acre sanctuary near the town of Hammerfest is set to begin early next year. “Everyone fell in love with this whale through viral YouTube videos,” Thorpe told The Guardian. Therefore, he set up a charity that currently funds the surveillance and protection of Hvaldimir.
“We have to keep a constant eye on Hvaldimir and make sure he doesn’t cause a nuisance to the salmon farms where he likes to hang out,” explains Thorpe. “I thought if we could set up a sanctuary or sanctuary that protects the whale from boat traffic, it could fish for itself and live as naturally as possible.” (ceded)